The release of the draft permit conditions is the next step leading to an issues conference on Feb. 12, 2015, and it gives all parties a chance to review them, the agency announced.

DEC says the draft permit conditions contain requirements and obligations imposed on the applicant (Crestwood), if the agency were to issue a permit for the project following the hearing process.

However, release of the draft permit conditions does not indicate the project will ultimately receive approval, DEC notes.

Based on extensive public interest in the proposed 88-million-gallon LP gas storage and distribution facility, DEC scheduled the conference to determine if there are “significant and substantive issues” that require an adjudicatory hearing.

Participation in the issues conference will involve DEC staff, Crestwood and any individual or group that has filed a petition, claiming to be directly impacted by the project, according to DEC. The deadline to file a petition for involvement in the conference was extended to Jan. 16, 2015.

Crestwood has previously expressed disappointment that DEC felt an issues conference was warranted after five years in the permitting process.